Amanze Chinonye
Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State known for his role in delivering the Petroleum Industry Act and spearheading the Presidential Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta, has appealed to the Federal Government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release four of his aides who have remained in detention weeks after a security raid on his Abuja residence.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his spokesperson, Julius Bokoru, Sylva described the continued detention of his staff as “unjust, unnecessary, and inhumane,” insisting that the circumstances surrounding their arrest remained unclear.
The detained aides were identified as Paganengigha Anagha; Musa Mohammed, Sylva’s driver; Police operative Ayuba Reuben; and Friday lusa Paul, an escort driver. According to Bokoru, Mr Anagha was the first to be arrested and has remained in custody alongside the others despite formal communication between Sylva and the EFCC.
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He said the former minister had written to the anti-graft agency on 24 November a letter acknowledged by the EFCC on 26 November informing it of his ongoing treatment for a “life-threatening medical condition” abroad and pledging to appear for interrogation on a medically feasible date to be mutually agreed upon.
“These individuals, fathers, husbands, ordinary Nigerians, have been held on grounds that appear unclear at best, and entirely vague to their traumatised families,” Bokoru said.
He further alleged that Sylva’s Maitama residence had been under “continuous security siege,” leaving the former minister’s young children and household confined and distressed. He also claimed that routine communication with the media had become risky as a result of the situation.
The spokesperson criticised what he described as inconsistencies in the EFCC’s recent public statements, saying they contradicted earlier engagements with Sylva, especially after the commission declared the former minister wanted over an alleged $14.8 million fraud linked to a refinery project. Sylva, in his letter to the EFCC, had expressed displeasure over the declaration.
Bokoru also dismissed earlier attempts to link the former minister to a purported coup plot claims which the federal government and the military had publicly disowned expressing concern that political actors may now be exploiting the situation for personal gain ahead of the next electoral cycle.
He stressed that many within the All Progressives Congress (APC), including Sylva’s supporters, do not believe President Tinubu is behind the former minister’s travails, insisting that “selfish individuals with political ambitions” were responsible for escalating the crisis.
Highlighting Sylva’s contributions, Bokoru said the former minister played a pivotal role in reforming Nigeria’s oil and gas sector through the Petroleum Industry Act and in restoring peace to the Niger Delta through the Presidential Amnesty Programme when he served as governor.
“Such a figure cannot be reduced to a pawn in local political rivalries, nor targeted by those who see the coming electoral season as an opportunity to diminish him,” he said.
The statement appealed to security agencies to lift the 24-hour surveillance around Sylva’s home and release the detained aides to reunite with their families, reiterating that due process must prevail.
“Chief Sylva has already written to the EFCC, pledging to appear before the Commission on a medically feasible date. This is the responsibility of any honourable man, and he has fulfilled it,” Bokoru said, expressing hope that the “long night of anxiety” would soon give way to calm.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
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